New Orleans Funk: Original Sound of Funk

Overview

Check the title -- New Orleans funk is not the same thing as New Orleans R&B or soul, so this may not be the sound that you're expecting. Even if it opens with the Meters, this isn't a compilation that plays to familiar sounds or expectations. Instead, it lays the groundwork for funk as it was known in the '70s or plays forgotten, possibly never-heard sounds from the '70s. So there ain't a single cut here that you will have heard or recognize unless you are an unrepentant New Orleans fanatic; some names are familiar -- the Meters, Lee Dorsey, Eddie Bo, Huey Piano Smith, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and Robert Parker -- but apart from Professor Longhair's "Big Chief," there's not a single thing here that regularly makes New Orleans comps or that will be recognized by anyone outside of the devoted. All 24 selections were chosen on one basis -- whether their recorded grooves were funky enough to be sampled and reappropriated to something else. Most of them are, but that may be beside the point, since this is a collection for record collectors who don't specialize in this style -- they're just looking for grooves. And there are some really good grooves here, but as singles a lot of them fall flat, unless they're delivered by somebody as undeniably assured and engaging as Lee Dorsey, whose two cuts wind up sounding like actual songs because he gives them the illusion of structure, even if they're just jams. Some other songs have the same fate, such as Aaron Neville's "Hercules," but this, by and large, is about sound, groove, and texture -- and on those terms it's pretty pleasing. Still, this is not a treasure trove of great lost singles, songs, and performances -- just a collection of good grooves worthy of sampling and making for good listening, providing you're into the sound and feel of the funkier side of New Orleans R&B, not the songs. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/01/2004
Label:	Soul Jazz
UPC:	5026328100470

Tracks

1. Handclapping Song  -  Meters  - Ziggy Modeliste  - Art Neville  - Leo Nocentelli  - George Jr. Porter
2. Hip Drop  -  Explosions
3. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further  - Lee Dorsey  - Allen Toussaint
4. It's Gonna Rain  - Albert "June" Gardner
5. Check Your Bucket  - Eddie Bo
6. Big Chief  - Earl King  -  Professor Longhair  - Wardell Quezergue
7. Free, Single and Disengaged  - Huey "Piano" Smith
8. Can I Be Your Squeeze  - Chuck Carbo
9. Hercules  - Aaron Neville  - Allen Toussaint
10. I've Got Reasons  - Mary Jane Hooper
11. Gator Bait  -  Gaturs
12. Get Out of My Life Woman  - Allen Toussaint
13. Tell Me What's on Your Mind  - Cyril Neville  - Leo Nocentelli
14. Handa Wanda  -  Wild Magnolias
15. Love Lots of Lovin'  - Lee Dorsey  - Betty Harris  - Allen Toussaint
16. Garden of Four Trees  -  Explosions
17. Dap Walk  -  Ernie & the Top Notes
18. Just Kissed My Baby  -  Meters  - Ziggy Modeliste  - Arthur "Red" Neville  - Leo Nocentelli  - George Jr. Porter
19. Reborn  - Marilyn Barbarin
20. Mama Roux  -  Dr. John  - Jessie Hill
21. Natural Soul Brother  - Danny White
22. Hook 'N' Sling, Pt. 2  - Eddie Bo
23. Here Come the Girls  - Ernie K-Doe
24. Hip-Huggin  - Robert Parker

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Parker   Primary Artist
Mary Jane Hooper   Primary Artist
The Meters   Primary Artist
Professor Longhair   Primary Artist
Dr. John   Primary Artist
Ernie & the Top Notes, Inc.   Primary Artist
Aaron Neville   Primary Artist
The Gaturs   Primary Artist
Chuck Carbo   Primary Artist
Cyril Neville   Primary Artist
Lee Dorsey   Primary Artist
Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns   Primary Artist
Allen Toussaint   Primary Artist
Explosions   Primary Artist
Betty Harris   Primary Artist
Marilyn Barbarin   Primary Artist
Danny White   Primary Artist,Primary Artist
Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias   Primary Artist
Eddie Bo   Primary Artist
Ernie K-Doe   Primary Artist
Albert "June" Gardner   Primary Artist
Huey "Piano" Smith   Primary Artist
The Wild Magnolias   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Professor Longhair   Performer
The Meters   Performer
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Aaron Neville   Performer
The Gaturs   Performer
Chuck Carbo   Performer
Cyril Neville   Performer
Jeff Hannusch   Photography
Lee Dorsey   Performer
Huey "Piano" Smith   Composer,Performer
Jessie Hill   Composer
Ziggy Modeliste   Composer
Art Neville   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Composer,Performer
George Porter, Jr.   Composer
Danny White   Performer
Leo Nocentelli   Composer
Angela Scott   Licensing
Explosions   Performer
Betty Harris   Performer
Marilyn Barbarin   Composer
Wardell Quezergue   Composer
Robert Parker   Performer
Adrian Self   Cover Design
Norbert Hess   Photography
Parker Dinkins   Photography
Michael P. Smith   Photography
Pete Reilly   Mastering
Arthur "Red" Neville   Composer
The Explosion   Performer
Earl King   Composer
Eddie Bo   Performer
Ernie K-Doe   Performer
Dr. John   Composer,Performer
Mary Jane Hooper   Performer